Three Times One

Today is Trinity Sunday, when we Christians celebrate the bug surprise of our faith, that God has multiple identities.

Jesus said to the disciples, "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you." - John 16:12-15

Rather than see God as having a split personality disorder, we seek to understand that there are actually three separate persons, individual manifestations of the one God that they remain together.

There is nothing like that among us humans, so it is normal or expected that we won't fully understand how it works, but that may not be necessary.

Those who encountered Jesus already felt they had a relationship with the Father, even though that relationship might have been strained.

What they discovered through the son was a personal, teaching and loving God presence, one who is much more relatable.  God became like them, like us.

We could never see GOD that way.  GOD is GOD, the all powerful force of creation.

But this person who called his disciples friends was easier to connect with and get to know.

And then he, Jesus, introduced them to someone else, someone who could become a part of them, the Holy Spirit.

This was the God within us that was there from our creation, but was unknown by us until we got to know him or her.

I find myself in constant communication with God this way, through the Spirit.  She is my source of confidence, my guide in compassion, my worry disperser.

Jesus promises to make my burdens light, and the Spirit whisks them away.

GOD the Father is always there for comfort, compassion, grace, understanding.  I tend to confess my fears to Him and let Him embrace me with reassuring warmth, while the other two are with me in my daily walk.

Sure, I could come to see all three as one, but I like having a way to separate the all powerful and awesome God from my buddies.

I wouldn't want the power to go to their heads.

More to come...